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Bachelor in Quantity Surveying
Site Report
Name: Liew Yong Sheng 0315108
Lecturer: Mrs Ang [Measurement]
Mrs Azrina [Construction Technology]
Mrs Aishah[Building Material]
Subject: Measurement.
Construction Technology.
Building Material

2. Abstract
Perhaps there are more to study in the construction site itself than reading from the context of a book or websites. The following site report holds not only the observation made during the trip to the unfinished La’tour residence but also research made for two specific part of the construction project. One of which is the discussion in temporary works where formwork types including traditional timber formworks and engineered formwork system are discussed through research, observation and interviews made with the workers on site. Another would be the discussion in concrete where concrete grade 40 and their advantages as well as disadvantages are discussed while at the same time a comparison with concrete grade 30 was made. The following site report also includes the learning outcome as well as the observation taken from site and a summarized discussion was made for each observation made.

3. Table of Content
Introduction
1
Nature of Building and Its Surrounding
3
Construction Technology
5
Building Material
12
Conclusion
15
Appendix
17
Reference
25

4. 1
Introduction
This is a report on a site visit to a construction site incorporating the objectives of the site visit, the introduction of the site and technical observations made on site including the proposed learning outcome of the site visit. The site visit was held on 21st November 2014 at 9:00 am sharp at D’Latour Soho, organized by Mrs. Ang Fuey Lin and guided by Mrs Ang Fuey Lin, Mrs Azrina bt Mhb Yaakob and Mrs Aishah Kamarazaly. Special gratitude are to be given to the member of the construction project for guiding us safely around the construction site and providing us knowledge required not only for the sake of the project but also for the sake of our thirst for knowing. Also, special thanks include these companies for the construction and also for allowing us to enter the site with responsibility of our safety on their shoulder:
Developer: DK-MY PROPERTIES SDN.BHD
Architect: RDA-Harris Architects Sdn Bhd
Mechanical and electrical engineer: PERUNDING BERKAT
Structural engineer: PERUNDING OCS
Quantity surveyors: ALPHA-OMEGA MATRIX
Contractor: PASUKHAS CONSTRUCTION SDN BHD

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Objective
The following are the proposed objective of the assignment.
1. Understand the basics of the construction process.
2. Understand the practical aspect of construction techniques in comparison to the theory aspect in books and its application on site.
3. Exposure to actual working environment on site including uncertainty circumstances e.g. weather.
4. Ability to communicate with the construction team members on site and to see the importance of teamwork in the building team.
5. Witness the usage of construction equipment on site including mechanical plants.
6. Explore and identify various types of building materials and technology on site.
7. Awareness of the importance of safety on site and understanding of safety problems and site conditions.
8. Recognize the items measurable for sub-structure and reinforced concrete frame works.

6. 3
Nature of the Project and Its Surrounding
The site is located at the back of Taylor’s Lakeside University and beside Senza Residence serving as phase B of the residence. Currently the only road that leads to Latour Soho is Taylor’s Road while the road on the opposite side is a toll that separates Bandar Sunway and Puchong.
As seen in the Figure 1.2, the building is planned to be a tall building. The project is, according to MPSJ’s “Tajuk Projek”, to be built with two blocks with 27 floors of Soho and 28 floors apartment service. The above includes 4 floor stage and 3 floor basement that includes the following:
Figure 1.1 Map of D’Latour
Figure 1.2 a 3D model in perspective of the Soho

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1. Block A with 629 units of soho and block B with 232 units of apartment service including “roof garden”.
2. Hall for versatility, surau, gymnasium, café, kindergarten, labour, swimming pool, health suite, study room and office in level 4.
3. Security house in bottom floor
4. Parking lot in lower floor 1 and 2
5. Parking lot from bottom floor until 3rd floor
6. Business space in bottom floor and mezzanine floor
7. Mechanical room in below ground floor and also above 17th floor.
Currently, as comparable in figure 1.3, 1.4 and 1.5, the construction project is halfway to the top of the basement parking lot.
Figure 1.3, 1.4 and 1.5 Construction Site in perspective

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Construction Technology
Temporary Work
As seen in figure 2.1, the building’s main component in its structural support is concrete. The concrete in these bottom floors serve as a very important support to the tall building above, supporting at least two block with 27 and 28 floors high. Before diving into the sections of Formwork and scaffolding, it is important to understand the definition of its general category: Temporary Works.
As defined in Illingworth J.R.’s Construction Methods and Planning, temporary works are any temporary construction necessary to assist the execution of permanent work and which will be removed from site on completion. It is made necessary to enable plant and labour to perform duty for efficiency and safety.
For in-situ concrete, there is a need of temporary works as a provision adequate enough to prevent concrete pressure arising as well as supporting loads until the concrete are self- supporting. This temporary work is also known as Formwork.
Figure 2.1 Façade of the Construction

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Formwork
In the site there are two type of formwork used observed during the site visit. One of which is steel formwork where, as shown in figure 2.2, is used for larger usage of concrete such as the floor itself and timber formwork, in figure 2.3, used for smaller details such as road blocks and so on.
Figure 2.2 (top) Steel formwork for concrete floors
Figure 2.3 (right) Timber formwork for smaller details

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Engineered Formwork System
As mentioned above, steel formwork is generally used in larger construction project such as high rise buildings and heavy construction such as damps and tunnels or in situation where re-uses of the same shuttering (in this case, the floor) is possible. Aside from those, it is also suitable for circular or curved shaped structures such as columns or tanks. The use of Engineered Formwork System which are formwork that are prefabricated modules with metal frame which could be steel or aluminium depending on the choice of the engineer and covered on the application side which in this case, concrete, with material such as steel are considerably advantageous in its usage. One of the major advantages in its usage would be the reduction of time needed to assemble it. It is this factor that leads engineer into considering the usage of engineered formwork system for repetitive flooring.
Technically speaking, engineered formwork system formwork are strong, durable and also have longer lifespan. It produces concrete that are much smoother than traditional timber formwork. Engineered formwork system also decreases the amount of wastage with its reusability characteristics. Due to the fact that it is metal, it does not absorb moisture from concrete mixture which maintains concrete mixture closest at its initial ratio (depending on the temperature of the environment). Thanks to this characteristic, engineered formwork system do not shrink as easily as timber.
However, there are a few consideration required in its usage. The initial cost and handling cost are higher in engineered formwork system. Despite its reusability, it is unwise to spend high cost over smaller details in the constructions. It also requires more advanced planning to fabricate the formwork and requires pre-calculated precision and accuracy.
Figure 2.4 Flat panel formwork

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Traditional Timber Formwork
Traditional timber formwork is considerably the most basic as well as traditional among all other type formwork. Its usage could be dated far back to even 1200-1400BC of Ancient Greece though not as extensively as the Roman Empire in the 300BC. Traditional timber formwork is the best choice for complicated sections of buildings with needs great amount of attention to small detail or smaller scale of concrete pouring in smaller construction projects such as residential construction or home improvement activity.
There are important characteristics required to be overviewed when choosing the right type of timber. Depending on the type of timber used and concrete poured, it must be relatively durable and treatable. Preferably light-weight and also well-seasoned without warping yet holds sufficient strength characteristics to support concrete pressure. In the construction site, they used a reinforcement bar as an additional support to the formwork.
Characteristic in Traditional timber formwork which are the most advantageous to construction project would be the cost. It can be constructed at a lower initial cost as compared to engineered formwork system due to higher availability as well as cheaper production cost. The cost of timber varies depending on the quality and treatment of the wood. On unrelated note, for smaller construction project, it is possible to scavenge for available lumber and oiling it to make it easier to be removed making it cheaper as well as effective. Practically speaking, timber formwork is easier to handle compared to engineered formwork system as there are no need for special tools nor high level of construction experience. It also is easier to handle due to the light weightiness.
However, the production of traditional timber formwork is not smooth which could be solved by using panels of material such as plywood to make a smoother surface as well as
Figure 2.5 Use of reinforcement bar, raking brace and horizontal brace as support

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have closer characteristics to timber formwork. Wood also degrade faster in multiple formwork uses unless it is treated.

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Scaffolding
Illingworth J.R. praised that scaffolding could be called as ‘the maid-of-all-work’ in construction field. It is considered to be the most crucial item in construction project to be had because it ensures that operatives can access to parts of construction safely and effectively. Henceforth, it is required by law to have scaffold required as well as its standards laid down by regulation along with netting to stop falling materials and ensures public safety.
Figure 2.5 Use of netting around scaffold
Figure 2.6 (top) Independent tied Scaffold constructed
Figure 2.7 (top right) ratio of scaffold with human height
Figure 2.8 (right) Assemble of scaffold up close

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Methods are based on the use of tube and fitting method are covered in MS 1462: 1999 Specification for Engineered formwork system Frames tubes and fittings used in tubular scaffolding.
There are various types of scaffolding available for construction usage such as:
1. Putlog scaffolds where one line of standards to support the outside of the scaffold deck, the inside edge is supported from wall being built. This consist of scaffold tube transom member with a flattened end to rest on brickwork, masonry or block walling.
2. Independent tied scaffold, by contrast, two row of standard supporting the working deck. In this case, transom are not built into the structure. The whole scaffold structure is independent from what is being built.
3. Free standing scaffolds, form of moveable tower although not necessarily so. Must be stable against overturning without any attachment to any structure.
4. Slung scaffold are those hanging from a structure overhead but incapable of being moved sideways or lowered.
5. Suspended scaffolds comprise working platforms suspended on wired ropes from a suitable structure above such that they can be raised and lowered but not move sideways.
6. Proprietary scaffolding system, in contrast with tube and fitting scaffold, it is designed to avoid use of loose fitting and modular in concept and load carrying capacity and structural stability work on a deemed to satisfy basis after extensive testing to validate performance figures supplied by maker in question.
Based on the structure of the scaffold in construction site, I have come to a conclusion of using Independent tie Scaffold. The proposal of the use of scaffold, as according to one of the worker, is due to the fact that it is more stable as compared to putlog scaffoldings and thus required by the law and regulation to construct them in such a way. Compared to using putlog whereby using constructed walls as support, independent tie scaffold have a vertical support due to the additional foundation and greater lateral stability. Putlog is only used as a preferred scaffolding when the walls are continuous as the transoms are directly tied into the constructed wall. As seen in figures above, the walls are not continuous and thus are not wise to use such scaffoldings.

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Building Material
Concrete
Mentioned in James Ambrose’s Simplified Design of Concrete Structure, concrete consists of mixture that contains a mass of loose, inert particle of graded size held together in solid form by a binding agent. Generally, there are three method of concrete usage; one of which is site cast concrete where wet concrete mix is deposited in forms at location where it is to be used. Another, precast concrete where mix is deposited in forms at location away from desired location. Finally, used as masonry construction called concrete masonry units used in similar manner as brick or stones.
On site, two methods are used; one would be site cast concrete and concrete masonry units as proven in figure below.
Figure 3.1 (top left) use of concrete masonry unit
Figure 3.2 (top) in site Concrete beam and column
Figure 3.3 (left) reinforcement bar in concrete

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The grade chosen by the engineer is, according to the worker on site, Grade 40. This means that the mix in which quantity by weight of cement ,sand, aggregate & if admixture required are mixed as per design proportion to produce 40 N/mm^2 cube strength in 28 days. Various factor such as the bearing capacity of soil and load affects and forces designer to use a greater concrete grades of greater compressive strength. In comparison to other grades, in this case, the closest of which is C30. Grade 40 concrete have equal size of maximum aggregate size in millimetre as to C30 as to the maximum cement content in kilogram per cubic meter. However, the minimum cement content in kilogram per cubic meter is greater in C40 compared to C30. In contrast, the maximum free water/cement ratio in C40 is lower than C30. As result, C40 have better compressive strength than C30. In the application of grades in this construction site, as seen in figure 1.2, the building is planned to be a tall building and will contains two blocks that holds 28 floors and 27 floors respectively. It is natural for the designer to choose concrete with grade 40 to support the building of such height. The concrete of grade 40 are also further reinforced by the reinforcement bars within to increase general strength within concrete. However, the use of cement content is higher compared to lower grades. This means that the cost of using this grade would be relatively higher than using other grades.
It is mentioned by one of the worker in the construction site that the engineer exaggerated the use of concrete grade. Technically speaking, it is possible to use concrete with grade 30 to construct even the basement. Financially, this makes construction project a lot cheaper
Figure 3.4 Concrete test area

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since the major component of the building is made of concrete. However, we were told that the engineer preferred to use Grade 40 instead to ensure the safety of the users in the future and avoid risks. This proves that grade 40 is a lot stronger than grade 30 even though more expensive.
Figure 3.5 and 3.6 cement bags

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Conclusion
We can assume that we understand how hard it is to get up from a fall, we can imagine how beautiful a scenery would be through description of words and images but nothing worth more than experiencing it ourselves. Similarly, we read books and listened from lecturers in lectures and tutorial about how construction project during its construction phase works but diagrams and plans can only tell that much. The feeling of excitement before even entering the site, thirst for answer that fills our curiosity of how things really looked like. When we entered the site, things are far different from what we imagined such as the additional consideration towards the worker’s living place and so on.
With the aid of both research as well as the site visit, the experience and knowledge doubles. It is now possible to relate and understand the terms and description written in books or website because of the site visit. This aids us not only in the practical usage but also makes reading and research a greater ease compared to researching through books and website blindly.
Aside from the above observation and research made, there are more knowledge to be gained from the site such as the use of reinforcement bar as a support in formwork and more. These little details are not readable from books nor would lecturers have the time to mention (more interesting images and details will be included in Appendix section).
In final addition, we also learnt safety precautions during a site visit. Even though it was mentioned repetitively before the site visit including the process of achieving our green
Figure 4.1 place where worker lives
Figure 4.2 where security made to ensure public do not enter without authority

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card. We still managed to gain more knowledge about safety precaution during the worker’s briefing. There are also signboards at the front of the entrance to ensure that not only visitor read this but also the workers are reminded to wear these safety helmets. Rather prevent than cure, they said.
Overall, this site visit holds more gain than loss. I am now more prepared to be a quantity surveyor all thanks to the privileges my university, lecturer and also the company given to me. I am truly grateful towards what they have done to allow me gain such great knowledge and experience that other people in other country could not. For this reason, I gave a thousand thanks to those who made me enjoyed the trip and gave me the knowledge I needed to be a better quantity surveyor.

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Dress code of a construction worker. Main component would be helmet and boots. Cloth are covered around face to reduce dust from entering the nose and thermal contact.
Tubes and bars for steel frame formwork.
Signs for safety precaution and regulation for outsider and for workers.
Appendix

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Overview and closer view of the construction site.
Hoarding used to prevent object from falling to the other side of the road and trespassers.
(Bottom)
Reinforcement bars made of copper (left) and steel (right). For different purpose and usage.

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Pathway to the construction site. Note the cloth hanging on the right and the motorcycle on the left. Showing that living space for worker should be considered.
Scaffold used for easy access as well as support to structures temporarily.
Close-up of the scaffold connected using nail.

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Description on cement bag
The difference in view from behind the net and without the net.

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Stirrups in formwork without concrete cast
Tubes of scaffold placed in the construction site.
Briefing towards safety precaution needed to take note from one of the construction worker.

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Concrete beams and columns.
Scaffold placed in front of the construction site and formwork beside it.
Reinforcement bar tensioning in the concrete to increase strength of concrete.

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Scaffold used to support water tank with wood plank as medium
Stiffeners from concrete for stiffening future masonry usage.

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Memories that will never be
Forgotten
sasa

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Reference
1. Civil Engineering. (n.d.). Retrieved November 23, 2014, from http://civil- resources.blogspot.com/2010/06/formwork.html
2. Concrete Formwork & Types Of Formwork - CivilDigital - Johnny. (n.d.). Retrieved November 23, 2014, from http://civildigital.com/concrete-formwork-types-of- formwork/
3. Metal formwork system , Preform System,. (n.d.). Retrieved November 23, 2014, from http://www.marcegaglia.com/ponteggi/eng/edilizia/casseforme.html
4. Engineered formwork system formwork. (n.d.). Retrieved November 23, 2014, from http://www.slideshare.net/arigatouz/Engineered formwork system -formwork- 23440015
5. What are Formwork Systems? (n.d.). Retrieved November 23, 2014, from http://www.brighthubengineering.com/building-construction-design/49443-the- latest-formwork-systems/
6. What is M20/40 grade concrete ? Is it new specification other than M20 grade concrete ? - Yahoo Answers. (n.d.). Retrieved November 23, 2014, from https://in.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20120425021605AAcH6lS
7. Illingworth, J. (2000).Chapter 3 Construction methods and planning (2nd ed.) p35-41. London: E & FN Spon
8. Illingworth, J. (2000).Chapter 4 Construction methods and planning (2nd ed.) p48-51. London: E & FN Spon 9. Simmons, H., & Simmons, H. (2007). Olin's construction: Principles, materials, and methods (8th ed.) p76. Hoboken: J. Wiley & Sons. 10. Parker, H., & Ambrose, J. (1984) Chapter 1.Simplified design of reinforced concrete(5th ed.)p10. New York ; Toronto: J. Wiley.